Chapter ten: Achilles' heel

My dearest daughter,

I am sorry I don't have time to explain this to you fully, but I am watched and I'm risking everything, as it is to tell you this. I am sorry that I had to force you to marry a man you don't love, but it's because my love for you is so great that I risked everything to be sure that you'd be safe.

The wedding was the only reason why you were given the diamonds. I had no idea she still possessed them. A banker came and delivered them to me the day before your wedding and I had to fight hard to keep them hidden. I don't know what, but they contain a great secret. Something that Moriarty wants. I don't know how he found out about your mother's possession of them. I only found out about them after meeting Mycroft Holmes. At first, I thought you could at least meet Sherlock, and then your stepmother revealed her true nature. It was that morning I decided that you'd wed him. Forgive me, but I hope I've done the right thing and hope you can one day find happiness with him. I don't have time to write a will, so this shall have to serve as one. But I bequeath all of my worldly possessions to my daughter, should I be found dead the day after her wedding.

With deepest love,

Your father

"Well," Sherlock exhaled. "that was tedious." I glowered at him. "So, where is this precious bracelet?"

I hesitated. "Why should I give it to you?"

"Because I'm your husband and I asked you for it."

I shook my head. "Not good enough." I picked up a piece of bacon and bit into it. "Asking would be one reason for it; the fact that you're 'my husband' is not."

He exhaled. "Sorry."

"You're just saying that." I said without hesitating or blinking.

He looks mildly surprised that I am starting to recognize how his emotions honestly are after spending so short a time together. "Yeah, but at least you got to hear it. I don't apologize to anybody."

"I know that."

He frowned. "How could you know that?"

"It's in your attitude." I picked up the cup of cocoa and sipped it. "I don't trust you yet, how do I know you'll give it back to me?"

"Would it help if I had my parents and Mycroft present for the moment I examine it so you can rest assured I'll return it you?"

I shrug. "I guess so." I bite my lip and ask. "And…as our marriage is…tied into this mess, might I ask, what public image shall we retain?" at his frown I ask. "Are we to act as a happy married couple, or shall we just be ourselves, but a little politer in society?"

He crossed his legs and drummed his fingers on the arms of his chair. "I favor the later, but I really don't care."

"Neither do I, but I wish for your mother not to have to make excuses for us as to our attitudes. I figured we should discuss it."

"If we're going to discuss things," he stated conversationally. "I suggest we talk about sleeping arrangements." I choked on my cocoa. "In light of the fact that Moriarty, possibly one of the greatest criminal masterminds is after you, I suggest you sleep in my room from now on." my eyes widened. "Technically, we are married so it's acceptable. Your room has a balcony, making it easy for anyone to come in and get you. Also, if he believes that we haven't consummated our marriage, he'll expect you to be in your room, not with me at night." I gulped slightly and raised the cocoa to my lips again. "And don't worry, you don't need to worry about the fulfillment of any wifely duties." The cocoa fell from my hands at those bland words. Sherlock's face as always showed no emotions. "I'm not interested in anything of that sort with you."

"So, you'll find procreation with the form of some whore instead?" The words slipped out of my mouth faster than I could stop them. No, I wasn't jealous, but I didn't need to be constantly treated as if I were a pathetic, wet animal that was dying in the street. My father had an affair with that maid while married to my stepmother. True, I didn't love Sherlock and I don't know if I could stand the thought of him making love to me. But the mere idea that he'd prefer a whore to me was an insult.

His brow arched as he stood up. "I should phrase that better." He picked up the coffee pot and refilled it. "I'm not interested in having sex," my whole face flushed. "with anyone at all."

"Can you not phrase things much more delicately? Does…nothing," I bite out. "embarrass you?"

"No," he said tartly. "everything is perfectly natural."

"Why am I not surprised that you'd say something like that?"

"Why should it disturb you?"

"Because it's embarrassing!"

"Why should something natural be embarrassing?"

Fortunately, I was spared the options of having to answer that question. The butler knocked on the parlor and entered. "Forgive me for disturbing you, but, Mrs. Holmes's stepmother is here to see her. She's very….upset."

Sherlock nodded. "Thank you, show her in please." Again, he walked over the coffee table and sat down next me. He set his cup of tea aside and said abruptly. "Put your head on my shoulder." I looked at him in curiosity. "Do it now!"

I did as he asked and put my head on his shoulder. "Why?"

"Go to sleep!" I closed my eyes and feigned sleeping. I felt his arm go around my shoulders and I tensed slightly. "Just relax, I wish to talk to your mother in private for a moment."

I closed my eyes and tried to act relaxed, but then his hand began stroking my hair. It seemed like such a caring gesture, but I knew it was all play. My stepmother came in the room, sniffling, the awful perfume of hers always pervaded the room before she entered it.

"Shh," Sherlock murmured. "she's sleeping." My stepmother's sniffles seemed to suddenly fly out the window. I wanted to peek, but didn't dare. Still, I could imagine the look of stunned surprise on her face. "It took her forever to drop off after the news."

The couch Sherlock had been sitting in previously creaked, letting me know she was sitting opposite. "How'd you find out?" She questioned.

"Some street girl bumped into Mycroft while reroute to find the police." Sherlock said casually, his hand continuing to brush my hair. "Mycroft then informed us as we went down to make identification, however, she couldn't handle it and I returned her home with my parents."

"Do you have…any idea how this happened?" With my eyes closed, I could hear how unconcerned she as for my wellbeing. Nor did she sound the least bit upset that her husband had been murdered. "Any at all?"

"Eight so far, but, I don't discuss cases with anyone involved until I've solved. It's a policy of mine and makes it easier to work, as people love to gossip."

"I see." She inhaled. "I hope…the news didn't spoil the wedding night."

The fact that she was interested in our wedding night, let me know she was trying to confirm my virginity status, which Sherlock was happy to confirm. "Actually, no, we're sleeping in separate quarters." He explained quietly. "I feel it's for the best until we know one another better. Your stepdaughter is really, quite an exceptional woman." His words caused my heart to stir, even if it was a game. "You see, I fell in love with her the moment I met her. I can, and I will win her heart."

Sherlock shifted and my head fell from his shoulder. I landed in an uncomfortable position, so I shifted to a better position. However, I landed in my head in his lap. I didn't know how Sherlock was going to play this, but there wasn't any earthly way that I'd still be sleeping through this.

I let out a whimper as I stirred awake. "She's waking." Sherlock murmured. "Do try to keep your hysterics under control. She's exhausted."

I opened my eyes and saw Sherlock's face hovering above mine. As much as I wanted to push his face away from mine, this was a game we were playing and I was willing to play my way straight into Sherlock's bed to ensure that Moriarty and my stepmother were put in jail for the rest of their days.

I yawned, not faking it at all, I really yawned. "Sorry, I must have drifted off."

"No need to apologize Tammy," he said my name oh so gently that I seriously began to question if this was the same man I was married to yesterday. I wondered if he'd discovered last night that he was dying from a terminal disease yesterday and now he's trying to get into heaven through me. "it was quite enjoyable for me to give you comfort."

I reached took ahold of his hand, which was stroking my cheek, and squeezed it. However, I had a double motive for that, in addition to it looking good, he no longer had his hand on my face. "Thank you."

He showed no change in his emotions. "Your mother's here."

I stated the obvious. "My mother's dead."

"Sorry, stepmother." He helped me sit up. I leaned into his side as he draped an arm around my shoulder. He studied me closely. "You should get some fresh air. Shall we go to the park later?"

I nodded. "Yes. That would be nice."

Sherlock looked at me for a moment before asking. "Can I kiss you?"

His words startled me for a moment, but I nodded hesitantly. "If…that's what you wish."

"It's what I wish," he said gently. "but, I'd rather you simply said 'yes' to me."

My stepmother all but jumped up out of the chair. 'Excuse me, I must go."

Sherlock and I looked up at her as if realizing that she was actually in the room. "Sorry," I said as I shifted into a far more comfortable position. "I'm just-

"I actually feel very much relieved that you've got someone to take care of you." Her eyes revealed exactly the opposite. "I was just coming to see how you were doing."

"Don't let us keep you." Sherlock said, a hint of his old self coming out. My stepmother glowered at him before walking briskly out of the room. Sherlock waited a few moments before jumping out of his seat. "Witch. God, I hate those kind of women, so annoying."

I shook my head and looked at him in bewilderment. "Why…did you do that?" He turned and looked at me somewhat blankly. "That performance."

"I'm giving Moriarty a moment to show up. She's obviously going to go tell him that you're about a week away from legally being my wife, based on our affectionate nature already."

"Won't the letter she intercepted cause them to be curious about our sudden change of emotions for each other?"

"Yes, but people can grow attached after incidents, particularly traumatic. You never had a relationship with your stepmother, so it would be logical that you'd turn to me."

I look at him. "You said to me you don't have a heart or emotions. Wouldn't he find your change of heart rather different?"

He shrugs. "If I'm as predictable as he believes I am, there must be a flaw in me for human error. Everyone has an Achilles' heel, best for him to believe that it's you." He clapped his hands together. "Now, we've got some planning to do. Because, if he intends to woo you, he's going to have to attempt to do it out from under my nose. The fact that the marriage bed hasn't been made yet, will give him enough nerve to figure out some way to get to you. And when he does, I'll be ready for him."

I stared up at him for a moment before saying. "If you wanted to use me as bait, you could have at least said so!"

"You're a good actress," he said. "you play off of people well. That could come in handy." He looked down at me. "What else can you do?"

I shook my head. "A great many things, I suspect you'll find out more as time goes by."

Lady Gisbourne 15: Yes, I can't wait for them to become friends, but I gave you some fluff in this chapter, even if it was a game. Don't worry, things are going to take an interesting turn after Moriarty's captured and then, they've got to make a decision about their marriage.